Brief case



Feb. 26, 1957 R. w. POWELL ET AL 2,782,890

BRIEF CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1955 Feb. 26,1957

Filed Sept. 1, 1955 R. w. POWELL ETAL 21,782,890

BRIEF CASE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 1 VENTORS Faber? MPawaIl Unite BRIEF CASEApplication September 1, 1955, Serial No. 532,057

Claims. (Cl. 190- -51) This invention relates to brief cases andparticularly pertains to a composite brief case unit having a multitudeof uses and applications.

Thus, one principal object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved brief case unit which includes an outer case and an innercase which may be used separately or which may be united into acomposite unit.

A further object is to provide a new and improved brief case unit whichaffords an outer box type case, usable separately, an inner underarmtype case usable separately and also adapted to be retained within theouter case, and a composite fan file case resulting from union of theinn er and outer cases.

Another object is to provide a new and improved brief case unit of theforegoing character in which the outer case is arranged so as to beespecially well adapted for use as a combination brief case andovernight case.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

aent

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brief case unit constituting anillustrative embodiment of the invention, the outer case of the unitbeing shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the brief case unit with theinner case also shown in open position to reveal a fan file; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view through the lid ofthe outer case, generally along a line 3 -3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the outer case with the inner caseremoved therefrom and shown in phantom lines.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner case shown in partly openposition.

If the drawings are considered in greater detail it will be seen thatthey illustrate a composite brief ease unit comprising an outer case 12and an innner case 14. While the two cases 12 and 14 may assume variousforms, the outer case 12 is shown as a box type case having a lowerfive-sided boxlike housing 16 and a five-sided boxlike lid or closureelement 18. Hinges 20 are connected between the body housing 16 and thelid 18. It will be seen that interengageable locking elements 22 and 24are provided on the body housing 16 and the lid 18 for disengageablysecuring the case in closed position. As illustrated, the outer case 12is provided with foldable diagonal braces 2-6 which extend between thebody housing 16 and the lid 18 to limit the extent to which the lid maybe swung away from the body housing. In this instance, the braces 26limit the opening of the lid 18 to approximately 90. Thus, the lid 18 isapproximately vertical when in open position, assuming that the bodyhousing is supported on a horizontal surface.

While the lid or closure 18 might assume various forms, it is shown withfront and rear walls 28 and 30, a pair of side walls 32, and a top wall34, the latter becoming a back wall when the lid is in open position.The lid 18 thus defines a space or cavity adapted to receive the innercase 14.

Although the inner case 14 might assume various forms, it is shown as anunderarm type case having a pair of substantially flat wall portions 36and 37 which preferably are made of leather, plastic or the like, so asto be somewhat flexible. In the illustrated case 14, the wall portions36 and 37 are joined along one edge by a folded portion 38 which isintegral with the elements 36 and 37. Flange elements 40 and 41 projectinwardly from the wall portions 36 and 37 and are adapted to be joinedby fastener means, shown as a slide fastener 42. The side wall portions36 and 37 have edges 44 and 45 which are separable in opening the case14.

It is preferred to provide a fan file 48 within the case 14. While thefan file might assume various forms, it is shown with a pair of flexibleend members which extend between the wall elements 36 and 37 and areextensible and collapsible when the case 14 is opened and closed. Aplurality of dividers 52 extend between the end members 50 and arearranged to fan open when the walls 36 and 37 are separated, as shown inFig. 2.

it will immediately be apparent that the inner and outer cases 12 and 14are usable separately to provide two types of brief cases especiallyWell adapted for various applications. The outer case is provided with ahandle 54 for easy carrying in the hand, while the inner case mayconveniently be carried under the arm.

The outer and inner cases 12 and 14 may also be united, in at least twodifferent ways, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide aconvenient, composite unit. As shown in Fig. l, the inner case may bemounted in its closed position within the lid 18 of the outer case 12.The inner case will be retained within the lid 18, even when the lid isopened. Thus, the inner case will not interfere with independent use ofthe lower body housing 16.

For the purpose of disengageably retaining the inner case 14 within theouter case, the lid 18 is provided with a first retaining member in theform of a lug or bracket 56 which is mounted on the rear wall 30 of thelid and is arranged to project forwardly adjacent the lower edge of therear wall. Thus, the lug 56 is adapted to overlap the folded edgeportion 38 of the inner case so as to retain one edge of the case in thelid.

Adjacent the front wall 28, a second member 58 is mounted on the lid 18for movement into and out of overlapping relation with the inner case14, adjacent the separable edges 44 and 45. While the movable member 58might assume various forms, it is shown as a bail having a pair of arms60 supported on pivots 62 which are mounted on the side walls 32 of thelid 18. A bail rod 64 extends between the outer ends of the arms 60. Itwill be seen that the bail 58 is swingable into a retaining position,shown in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 3, in which the bail rod 64extends across the outer wall 36 of the case 14 so as to prevent thecase from being removed or dislodged from the lid 18. The bail 58 isswingable toward the forward wall 28, as indicated in dot-dash lines inFig. 3 so that the bail rod 64 will be clear of the path of the innercase 14. By thus swinging the bail 58, the inner case is released forremoval from the lid 18.

For the purpose of holding the movable bail 58 in its retainingposition, the lid 18 is provided with locking means, which might assumevarious forms, but are illustrated as a pair of latching arms 66connected by means of pivots 63 to brackets "it? which are mounted onthe side walls 32. Each latching arm 66 is formed with an open slot 72adapted to receive the bail rod 64. A spring 74 biases each arm 66toward the front wall 28. will be seen that an inclined camming edge 76is formed on each arm, outwardly of. the slot 72, so that the arm willbe displaced downwardly, as shown on dot-dash lines in Fig. 3, whenengaged by the bail rod 64.

Fig. 2 illustrates another manner in which the outer and inner cases 12and 14 may be arranged. As shown, the slide fastener 42 is open and theedges44 and d5 of the walls 36 and 37 are separated to expose the fanfile 48. The folded lower edge 38 of the inner case 14 is still retainedbetween the lug 56 and the top Wall 34, but the bail 58 is now arrangedto retain only the wall 37 within the lid 18. In other words, the wall37 is insidethe bail rod 64 but the wall 36 is outside the rod so thatthe fan file may be swungopen as illustrated. The bail rod 6,4 retainsthe inner case 14 within thelid- 18 but permits the opening of thefanfile 48. Thus, the fan file may beused without removing the innercase 14 from the outer case 12. The outer case 12 may be closed with theinner and, outer cases in the relationship shown in Fig. 2. When this isdone, the body housing 16 of theouter case 12 will close the inner case12, at least partially, and will retain the contents of the fan file 48within the inner case. When the lid 13. is opened, theinner case willautomatically move into open position by gravity. In this way, the fanfile 48 will immediately be accessible.

With the walls 36 and 37 ofthe inner case 14 moved into adjacentrelation, the case 14 may be locked behind the bail rod 64, as shown inFig. 1. The inner case 14 will be retained in this position whether ornot the slide fastener 42 is closed. Thus, the arrangement which retainsthe inner case 14 in the lid 18 obviates any need for closing the slidefastener when theinner case is being used in conjunction with the outercase.

With the inner case 14 removed from the outer case 12, the latter willfunction advantageously as a combination brief case and overnight bag.Articles of clothing, such as shirts or the like, for example, may bemounted behind the member 56 and the bail rod64. The lower body portion16 may then be used to hold papers or the like.

Alternatively, the inner case may be mounted in the lid 18 and employedto hold papers, while the lower body housing 16 of the outer case may beused to hold clothing and other personal effects.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents maybeemployed without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in thefollowing a ms;

We claim:

1. In a brief case unit, the combination comprising a box type casehaving a boxlike body housing with an inverted boxlike lid hingedthereon, an inner underarm type case disengageably received in said lidand having a pair of opposed walls movably jointed along one edge-ofsaid innercase and separable along theoppositeedge thereof, said innercase having slide fastener means disengageably interconnecting saidwalls, said lid having side, front and rear walls arranged in boxlikefashion and surmounted by a top wall, a retaining lug mounted on saidrear wall, and projecting forwardly from the lower end portion thereoffor engaging and retaining saidone edge of said inner case, a retainingbail having arms swingably mounted on said side walls and a bail rodelement extending-between said arms, said bail being swinga'ule over theopposite edge of said inner case to retain said inner case in said lidwhen said inner case is closed, said bail being swingable away from saidinner case to release the same, and disengageable latching means on saidside walls for retaining said bail in position over said inner case,said inner case including a fan file housed therein and extendingbetween said walls thereof, said fan file including flexible endelements extending between said walls of said inner case and dividermeans extending between said flexible end elements, said fan file beingmovd able into open position by separation of said walls of said innercase, said bail also being movable over the one of said walls of saidinner case to retain said inner case adjacent said top wall of said lidin said lid when said fan file is open.

2. in a brief case unit, the combination comprising an outer case havinga housing element with a closure element hinged thereon, an inner casehaving wall elements movably joined along one edge thereof and separablealong the opposite edges thereof, fastener means for disengageablyinterconnecting said wall elements to close said inner case, said innercase having fan file means therein movable into open position byseparation of said wall elements, means on said closure element of saidouter case for disengageably retaining said inner case thereon, saidmeans including a first member mounted on said closure element foroverlapping said inner case adjacent said joined edges, a second membermounted on said closure element for movement into and out of overlappingrelation to said inner case adjacent said separable edges with saidinner case closed, and means on said closure element for disengagcablyretaining said movable second member in overlapping relation to saidinner case, said inner case being movable into open position with saidwall elements separated and said fan file opened, said movable secondmember also being movable into overlapping relation to the one of saidwall elements adjacent said closure element to retain said inner casethereon with said inner case open.

3. In a brief case unit, the combination comprising an outer case havinga housing element with a closure element hinged thereon, an inner casereceivable in said outer case and having movable opposed wall elements,said inner case having fan file means therein movable into open positionby separation of said wall elements, means on said closure element ofsaid outer case for disengage ably retaining said inner case thereon,said means including a first member mounted on said closure element foroverlapping said inner case adjacent one edge, a second member mountedon said closure element for movement intoand out of overlapping relationto said inner case adjacent the opposite edge thereof with said innercase closed, said inner case being movable into open position with saidwall elements separated and said fan file' retaining bail having armsswingably mounted on the forward-portion of said lid and a bailrodelement extend ing betweensaid arms, said'bail being swingable overthe opposite edge of said inner case to retain said inner case; saidbail being swingable away from said inner case.

to'release the same, and disengageable latching means on said side wallsfor retaining said bail in position over said inner case.

5. In a brief case unit, the combination comprising an outer case havinga housing element with a closure element hingedthereon, an inner casereceivable in said" outer case and having movable opposed wall elements,said inner case having fan file means therein movableinto open positionbyseparation of said wall elements, means on said "closure element ofsaid outer case for disengageably retaining said inner .case thereon,said means including a member mounted on said closure element foroverlapping said inner case adjacent one edge, a bail mounted on saidclosure element for swinging movement into and out ofoverlappingrelation to said innercase adjacent the opposite edge thereofwith said inner case closed, said inner case being movable into openposition with said wall elements separated and said fan filed opened,said bail also being movable into overlapping relation to the one ofsaid wall elements adjacent said closure element to retain said innercase thereon with said inner case open.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBurehess Dec. 9, 1913 Feldman May 19, 1931 VanDevanter Oct. 25, 1932Lifton Apr. 29, 1952

